At this time in my life, I quite like myself but, for a large portion of my life, I deplored being shy.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 October 2023 source ↗
identity
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
The Guardian's The Q&A has retained this Proust-derived prompt from at least 2007 through 2026, and ABC independently put it to the Obamas in 2011.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
One of 24 questions in The Q&A here.
On the record
Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.
Read by field
Everyone
Science and medicine 1
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Read by age
Any age
In their thirties 15
In their forties 13
In their fifties 22
In their sixties 20
Seventy and beyond 15
Self-centredness.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 March 2024 source ↗
I’m lazy domestically. I don’t do housework. My mother would have called me a slut.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 March 2024 source ↗
Marina Abramović
Performance artist
My difficulty to forgive.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 October 2024 source ↗
Impatience and being bossy.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 December 2024 source ↗
I talk too much.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗
I’m argumentative.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 April 2025 source ↗
Well, I’m always right.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 31 May 2025 source ↗
Always saying yes to people. For example, I’m doing this.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗
Intermittent laziness.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 June 2025 source ↗
I don’t say that I’m perfect but there’s nothing that I deplore.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 August 2025 source ↗
I’m embarrassed when I get people’s names wrong.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 January 2026 source ↗
My lack of foreign language skills.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 April 2026 source ↗
The boozing. I started on rum as a child.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 June 2026 source ↗
I’m very impatient – next question.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 June 2026 source ↗
0 answers from members
Nobody has answered this one yet.